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Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Long Way Home by Katie McGarry - Book Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Violet's dad was a member of the Reign of Terror motorcycle club and he paid with his life for it. In Violet's world women are often treated as loyal subjects, the men protect them, they take the decisions and the women have to obey. When she and Chevy are being abducted on her eighteenth birthday Violet's nightmares come true. She can get out, but won't be left alone. She's being put under a lot of pressure and instead of giving in she decides to stand up for herself. While being held by the enemy Violet and Chevy learn a lot about their past. Is what they've been told actually the truth?

Violet is the love of Chevy's life, but they are no longer a couple. Violet doesn't want him to be like the other Reign of Terror members and has given Chevy a choice. So far he hasn't made a decision, which means he can't call her his girlfriend anymore. Chevy knows Violet is hiding something and he wants nothing more than to keep her safe, but will he be capable of doing so? And when Violet is ready to tell someone her secrets who will she turn to? A person can be a prisoner in many different ways and it's up to Violet, with or without Chevy's help, to find a solution and regain freedom.

Long Way Home is an impressive story about motorcycle gangs, betrayal, secrets, family ties, friendship and true love. Violet is strong, independent and honest. She says what she thinks, she can stand up for herself and she has a fiery personality. She's fabulous and I loved her courage and dedication. She fights for the people she loves and she isn't afraid to take risks to protect them. Chevy is kindhearted and chivalrous. He wants Violet to be happy and he wants nothing more than to be by her side every single day. He's caring and sweet, but he also has a blind spot. That's why he and Violet have plenty of meaningful discussions, which were interesting to read. They have a beautiful deep connection, but they have to work through a lot of problems as well. I loved the way Katie McGarry writes about this wonderful unique couple.

Reign of Terror is a complicated network. For both Violet and Chevy the men in this club are family. They keep having conflicted feelings and I couldn't put the book down before I found out the truth. There are many surprising twists and turns, which is something I enjoyed very much. Long Way Home is filled with action, power struggles, heated discussions and intense relationships. Katie McGarry perfectly understands emotions and their consequences. Because of this the story progresses naturally. While there's a lot going on it never becomes too much. She's always in control of the moves and decisions her characters are making, which is quite a skill as her story is fast-paced and filled with adrenaline at the same time. She merges these two parts in a brilliant way. Long Way Home is an amazing original and gripping story. I loved the characters, the suspense, the complexity of the connections between people and the abundance of love. I highly recommend this fantastic book.

Advice

If you like stories about strong girls, protective guys, motorcycles, power struggles and suspense you will definitely like Long Way Home. It's the third part of the Thunder Road series, but can easily be read as a standalone.

“Your car’s broke.” Chevy glances in my direction again, and there’s a softness in his eyes that I hate and love. It’s the same unguarded look as when we whispered our most intimate thoughts into each other’s ears.

I hold his gaze for as long as he can handle. “Thanks for the update, Captain Obvious.”

Chevy mimics tipping a hat that isn’t on his head. “My pleasure.”

The right side of my mouth edges up. Damn him for being so charming.

“Stone,” Chevy says. “Have you made big plans for tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Violet turns eighteen.”

Chevy and I had so many plans for eighteen. Spent too many nights in each other’s arms planning out how we were going to celebrate this year. Dinner out of Snowflake. Prom. Laughter with friends. Midnight and dancing on a blanket in our field.

“Mom’s mad at Violet and she said we might not do anything because of Violet’s attitude,” Brandon blurts out and he scratches his chin twice. “Violet cut class and the school called Mom to tell her. Mom’s really angry. She yelled. A lot. And Violet wouldn’t yell back. Violet always yells back, but not this time.”

Chevy’s adorable smile falls into a frown and it’s really a shame. Brandon looks over at me for confirmation that I’m not mad at him for spilling about my fight with Mom, because I’ve reminded him several times that personal conversations should stay personal, and I step toward him then briefly squeeze my fingers around his wrist.

My brother isn’t trying to tattle, he’s nervous being out in the dark and upset over the fight Mom and I had before we left for the game. He has a problem with letting negative emotions go. They circle his brain like vultures do with roadkill.

Headlights shine in the distance, and my shoulders relax. Last thing I want to do is get into a discussion with Chevy as to why I didn’t tell Mom that I handed Chevy my note. This has been an awful day, and I’m ready to pull the covers over my head and stay in bed for days, maybe weeks.

I step out onto the road, and using the flashlight cell, wave to signal Mom. This isn’t the first time Dad’s car has broken down, and unfortunately, it won’t be the last. Mom has passed us before. Though I’m not convinced those times were a mistake as much as Mom attempting to teach me another lesson of how unsafe I am in the world.

Footsteps against the rocks and Chevy eases beside me. The car weaves in and out of the center lane, and my arm hesitates in the air as unease tiptoes through me.

Chevy places his hand on my bicep and forces it down. “That’s not your mom’s car.”

It’s not. Mom would never drive like that and those aren’t the headlights of a minivan. Those belong to something with some muscle. A scary sixth sense creeps along my skin.

Growling engines, then three single beams appear. Motorcycles. Those motorcycles aren’t chasing the car, they’re following. My stomach lurches as I stumble back. Chevy steps forward and he draws his knife out of the sheath.

About Katie McGarry

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, NOWHERE BUT HERE, and WALK THE EDGE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.